Bhubaneswar: Overnight refurbishments undertaken at government hospitals in the State in view of State 5T secretary VK Pandian's visit have turned out to be mere eyewash as reality check at many District Headquarters Hospitals have revealed that the health care institutions still reel under manifold problems.
However, after Pandian's visit, deplorable condition of majority of the hospital which wore refurbished looks for few days are now back to square one putting a big question mark on the effectiveness of Odisha government's roadmap for implementation of ‘Mo Sarkar’.
An OTV reality check at Keonjhar and Rayagada district headquarters hospitals have opened up glaring examples of mismanagement.
Narrating his bad experience in the Keonjhar DHH, Sunil Munda, a relative of a patient said, “I came to the hospital with my grandfather after his skin developed some infection. After I got a ticket, I learnt that the doctor was absent. Yesterday also I visited the hospital, but returned without meeting the doctor.”
Coming from far-off places, patients are facing considerable inconvenience due to lack of adequate facilities, prevailing unhygienic conditions, standing in queue for long hours due to inadequate staff at the district headquarters hospital.
Keonjhar Collector Ashish Thakare, however, clarified that the hospital is in upgradation mode and linking it up with the new medical college is underway. We are also trying to rope in more doctors for the welfare of patients so it is a continuous process.
Similar situation prevails at Rayagada district headquarters hospital where there is no waiting room in the maternity ward and relatives are seen seating for hours on the verandah with children. Besides, the ultrasound unit at the hospital is lying defunct for the last four years due to lack of proper equipments and doctors.
“I have come to the hospital with my son as he suffering from infection. The hospital staff told me that the doctor will come on Wednesday. However, the doctor did not turn up,” said Sahadev Tandi a resident of Gotipada in Rayagada district.